If you’re a vegetarian, don’t write about cannibals.

Simple advice, but true.  Now, maybe you weren’t thinking of writing about cannibals–but what if they were the next big thing?  What if a blockbuster cannibal extravaganza just hit the bestseller list?

My point is that it can be very tempting to write about the latest and greatest trend in YA or MG fiction.  I’ve never been to a SINGLE conference (and I’ve been to many) where someone doesn’t ask an editor or agent what the trends are right now.  And everyone holds their breath, their pens poised over paper, ready to write down the answer.